Document Type : Original Research Paper
Authors
Department of Microbiology, Jahrom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Jahrom, Iran
Abstract
Optimization of the effective parameters in the copper bioleaching of chalcopyrite concentrates (CuFeS2) is studied by moderately thermoacidophilic microorganisms. The microorganisms with extensive metabolic properties are used in two different ways: 'top-down' and 'bottom-up'. The bioleaching experiments are performed based on the parameters of silver, activated charcoal, concentrate type (Sarcheshmeh and Miduk), and a type of bacteria. By regrinding the concentrate particles down to 10 µm, bottom-up consortium, 500 ppm silver, and 3 g/L of coal, more than 97% of the copper from the Miduk chalcopyrite concentrate is recovered within 12 days. The final recovery of the control test without the microbes is 35%. The performance of the bottom-up method is significantly better than the top-down one. The moderate thermophiles have an important role in copper biomining.
Keywords
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